§7-14C-2. Investigation and interrogation of a deputy sheriff.
When any deputy sheriff is under investigation and subjected
to interrogation by his or her commanding officer, or any other
member of the department, which could lead to punitive action, the
interrogation shall be conducted under the following conditions:

(a) The interrogation shall be conducted at a reasonable hour,
preferably at a time when the deputy sheriff is on duty, or during
his or her normal working hours, unless the seriousness of the
investigation requires otherwise. If the interrogation does occur
during the off-duty time of the deputy sheriff being interrogated
at any place other than his or her residence, the deputy sheriff
shall be compensated for that off-duty time in accordance with
regular department procedure. If the interrogation of the deputy
sheriff occurs during his or her regular duty hours, the deputy
sheriff may not be released from employment for any work missed due
to interrogation.

(b) Any deputy sheriff under investigation shall be informed
of the nature of the investigation prior to any interrogation. The
deputy sheriff shall also be informed of the name, rank and command
of the officer in charge of the interrogation, the interrogating
officers and all other persons to be present during the
interrogation. No more than three interrogators at one time may
question the deputy sheriff under investigation.

(c) No deputy sheriff under interrogation may be subjected to
offensive language or threatened with punitive action. No promise
of reward may be made as an inducement to answering questions.

(d) The complete interrogation of any deputy sheriff shall be recorded, whether written, taped or transcribed. Upon request of
the deputy sheriff under investigation or his or her counsel, and
upon advance payment of the reasonable cost thereof, a copy of the
record shall be made available to the deputy sheriff not less than
ten days prior to any hearing.

(e) Upon the filing of a formal written statement of charges
or whenever an interrogation focuses on matters which are likely to
result in punitive action against any deputy sheriff, then that
deputy sheriff shall have the right to be represented by counsel
who may be present at all times during the interrogation.

Nothing herein prohibits the immediate temporary suspension
from duty, pending an investigation, of any deputy sheriff who
reports for duty under the influence of alcohol or a controlled
substance which would prevent the deputy from performing his or her
duties as defined in chapter sixty-a of this code, or under the
influence of an apparent mental or emotional disorder.